I remember meeting Mitch, oddly enough, in Reno at the mall. Frankie and I were walking around the food court when two of the tallest, most attractive looking people walked in holding hands. Frankie yelled “Hey, it’s Mitch!” and introduced me to him and his wonderful wife Kirby. (At the time they had just gotten engaged, and she was his fiancé!).

I remember how kind he was, and he just seemed like a great person. More than ten years later my instincts are right. If you are not familiar with Mitch, he came back after living overseas on and off for several years playing professional baseball. Mitch is a home grown Lassen County Boy, and is very proud to hail from our little town.

No matter how famous he gets, Mitch is always so down to earth and humble. So incredibly humble.

Mitch played professionally for several years but every chance he could, made a point to come back home. His wife and his son are his biggest fans, and speaking to Mitch, it’s evident that nothing is more important to him.

Even when Mitch was away, he still made sure to give back to his hometown. One year for a raffle, he donated a mitt, and let me tell you, people go crazy for a Mitch Lively mitt.

Upon his return from overseas, Mitch has been very busy. Aside from spending time with his family, he opened Lively Performance, where Mitch helps all kinds of athletes be the best version of themselves.

As a parent of a young athlete, I cannot point to a better role model than Mitch.

Additionally, Mitch helps out with Little League, and has undertaken the role of Pitching Coach for the baseball team. (Ahh yes, Frankie’s dream of working with him has come to fruition!)

Mitch has such a positive impact on any athlete! He has a true love of sports and the right temperament to coach. Plus, he is just a big softie for the Avilla girls, which means that he is Pearl and Peach approved. (The fact he never tells them no and gives them snacks doesn’t hurt anything either).

Mitch and his family are an integral part of our sports community, but really of our community overall.

Mitch is so much more than just “baseball” as he settles back into his hometown, I am so excited to see what is next for him because he is one of the reasons I love where we live.

“We hope this will be a good way to get people engaged in the everyday science that the BLM and our partners undertake to improve public lands and natural resources,” said Craig Drake, manager of the BLM Applegate Field Office based in Alturas.

The following chronolog sites are active on public lands managed by the BLM Applegate Field Office:

Prescribed Fire: This site is along the Barrel Springs Backcountry Byway about 10 miles northeast of Fort Bidwell, Calif. (coordinates: 119°57’31.006″W, 41°53’43.719″N). The BLM and University of Utah are studying fire effects on an edible plant called yampah, or epos, important to native people.

Spring Restoration: The monitoring site is a half-mile south of the Buckhorn Backcountry Byway south of Cedarville, Calif. near the California-Nevada state line (coordinates: 119°55’38.923″W, 40°52’37.243″N). At this location, the BLM is studying the effects of a riparian fence enclosure, native plant seeding, and removing encroaching juniper trees to improve water quality and quantity from the spring.

Meadow Restoration: The chronolog site is at Fitzhugh Creek Meadows, about 11 miles south of Alturas, Calif. in an area known as the Likely Tablelands (coordinates: 119°55’38.923″W, 40°52’37.243″N). The best access is from Modoc National Forest Road 5. A high clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended.

Here, the BLM and CalTrout have installed beaver dam analogs that mimic the function of beaver dams to improve the meadow’s hydraulic functions such as water retention.

The BLM recommends checking conditions before heading out to any of the sites. Information is available from the BLM Surprise Field Station, 530-279-6101.

Chronolog is a tool used by organizations to create crowd sourced time lapse videos to monitor the environment and engage communities in science. More information, including a map of sites, is available here: www.chronolog.io.

All the fun happens at 1345 and 1445 Paul Bunyan Road from 3:00 to 5:00p.m.

For more information call 530.251.8183.

Through the grant-supported Teen Distracted Driving initiative, the CHP is dedicated to promoting safe and responsible driving practices with the goal of helping teen drivers remain focused on the road to avoid becoming another statistic.

“A combination of driver inexperience and distraction behind the wheel can lead to a lifetime of consequences,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “The dangers associated with driving distracted are not worth the text, call, or fleeting distraction. It’s a careless choice that can change lives forever.”

Everyday activities like using a cell phone, eating, drinking, adjusting the stereo, or chatting with friends, pose life-threatening risks when done behind the wheel and can have an impact on all road users.

The Teen Distracted Driving program encompasses an educational element that enables CHP officers and traffic safety collaborators to participate in school and community events across the state. Enforcement efforts targeting distracted driving will be carried out during both National Teen Driver Safety Week in October and National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Highway 36 near Westwood, 1925.

Mystery Car Wreck Probed by Officials

October 25, 1934

Officers of the Lassen County unit of the California Highway Patrol today are seeking Rita Silva, Susanville and William Case, Westwood, following the disappearance of the pair after a car crash on the Susanville – Westwood road Saturday night on Clear Creek hill.

An investigation was started after the wreck was reported by passing motorists. Traffic officers declare Miss Silva and Case were riding in the car in company with Hugh Tribe, also of Westwood, when the car left the highway and overturned.

Miss Silva and Case were taken to Westwood after a passing motorist kicked the windshield in and extracted them. Tribe, unconscious in the rear seat, was left behind.

Another passing car took Tribe to Westwood where he regained consciousness. He was not badly injured. Neither Miss Silva or Case were believed to have been injured.

Efforts of officers to locate either failed. They disappeared after the crash and relatives were unable to determine where they went.

Miss Silva was employed in a local home while Case is reported to have family in Westwood.